CNN host tells Trump campaign press secretary: ‘I’m talking’ in broadcast about hurricane response
A CNN host lashed out at a Trump spokeswoman during an on-air argument over the ex-president’s comments on the hurricane and migrant funding.
Host Kate Bolduan and Trump National Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt spoke live on TV as they disputed Donald Trump’s claims about the budget for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
The cable news host pressed Leavitt over Trump’s now-debunked statements accusing FEMA of running out of money for Hurricane Helene victims because it was spending that money on migrants.
Bolduan apparently tried to get Leavitt to admit that Trump falsely claimed FEMA had used all his money on illegal immigrants.
CNN anchor Kate Bolduan interrupted Trump’s national press secretary Karoline Leavitt after the two continued to talk over each other while disagreeing over Donald Trump’s past comments on FEMA’s hurricane and migrant funds
The FEMA funding set aside for noncitizens was actually never appropriated by Congress for hurricane relief.
“Things the former president has said are that FEMA funds were stolen to be used to house illegal immigrants, that no one from FEMA was on the ground in North Carolina, that money was deliberately withheld from Republican parts of the state.” , Bolduan said. detailed to Leavitt.
“None of that is true,” the host continued. “The head of FEMA says it’s even more dangerous than not being true if this is pushed and spread to the people who need help the most.”
“With that knowledge, will the former president stop saying this?”
Then Trump’s spokeswoman fired back at the CNN anchor before she was cut off.
“The bottom line is that FEMA spent $1 billion to fund illegal immigrants that Kamala Harris and Joe Biden allowed into the country,” Leavitt continued.
“CNN and a lot of mainstream media reported that over a month ago,” Leavitt said.
“Now we are in a dire situation today where Americans are in dire situations and in need of food and water.”
“And Secretary Mayorkas said last week that FEMA does not have sufficient funding to get through this crisis and the remainder of the hurricane season.”
DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas stunningly admitted last week that the agency would not being able to pay the bill for this historic hurricane season without additional funding from Congress.
The dispute became so heated at one point that Bolduan was forced to raise her voice while talking about Leavitt.
‘I’m talking! Let me finish!’ she asked pointedly.
Bolduan ultimately called off the interview after Leavitt repeatedly dodged the host’s questions
An aerial view of people standing near destroyed and damaged buildings in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s flooding on October 8, 2024 in Bat Cave, North Carolina
Bat Cave in particular was hit hard by flooding. Recovery efforts continue as the death toll rises to more than 230, while powerful Hurricane Milton is on course to make landfall in Florida
After they talked over each other, Bolduan came out on top: “No, no, no… Donald Trump made (the claim) that they stole money from FEMA and used it, and it’s all gone because they use to house migrants. That’s not true.’
“There is no money from the disaster fund that would house migrants,” she said matter-of-factly.
The Republican spokeswoman responded, “I don’t think the American people care which pocket the money comes from.”
After more smears about how Trump used FEMA money for migrants in 2019, Bolduan demanded Leavitt stop.
Immigrants await processing at a U.S. Border Patrol transit center after crossing the border from Mexico in Eagle Pass, Texas, on December 20, 2023. FEMA has allocated more than $1 billion to accommodate noncitizens since fall 2022.
Trump has claimed that FEMA took money from Americans to spend on noncitizens, but Congress allocated the funds specifically for migrants in a funding bill this year.
After Leavitt repeatedly evaded Bolduan about Trump’s 2019 plan, the host dropped out of the interview.
“I don’t hear you answering why it was okay for the Trump administration to use disaster relief funds to deal with migrants in 2019, and it’s not okay at all now,” the CNN host said.
“We’ll leave it at that, because I’ve offered you three times to give me the answer and I’m not getting it!” We’ll talk some more,” Bolduan said before moving on to the next, presumably less combative segment.